It was an unbelievable feat and a dream come true when pretty Akingbade Victoria emerged the winner of the “Most Beautiful Campus Queen in Nigeria” for the 2019 Edition. According to the 200 Level Student of History and Diplomatic Studies from OOU, “I was not expecting to be the winner but was surprised the moment I heard my name. Though I know I have put up a commanding performance in the Talent Exhibition and the Traditional Attire Wear Outfit”, said the campus queen who went home with a cash prize of three hundred thousand naira (N300,000:00), one year modelling contract and an allexpenses paid trip to Kigali, Riwanda.
The 20-year old beauty queen emerged as winner after defeating over two hundred contestants from other Universities in Nigeria. She revealed that the competition actually started with a purchase of three thousand, five hundred naira form in October 2018 which led to numerous screening exercises resulting in twenty-three contestants being invited to camp on Thursday, 28th March, 2019 for the final phase of the beauty competition at Pefti Event Centre, Ajao Estate, Lagos on Sunday, 31st of March, 2019.
Giving details about her experience during the competition, Akingbade Victoria disclosed that the panel of judges considered the performances of the contestants in four major areas namely: Catwalk; Outfits – dinner wear, traditional attire and casual; Talent Exhibition and General knowledge. She equally added that the online voting method was adopted in addition to the ratings from the Panel of Judges. She explained further that the online voting method followed the pattern of the Big Brother Africa Show where fans vote online for their favourite housemates.
On what motivated her to go into the beauty contest, Victoria disclosed that the success stories of other beauty queens actually inspired her and with the support she received from her family, most especially, her mother and siblings.
She said that “pageantry is not only about your physical beauty but what you can offer to your community and that is why I have decided to focus on awareness of mental health among teenagers and young women”. “How to assist them to overcome depression, low self-esteems, anxiety, self-hatred and lack of confidence”, she added to buttress her point.
As a pretty and intelligent young lady, it would not be out of place if she is into a relationship. But not Victoria. She said dating was not her priority for now as she did not want to get distracted from her studies. According to her “my education is my priority for now, I do not want to get distracted. Though I have so many friends and get along with both sexes but I am not into any relationship with any guy. I want to make good grades and be a diplomat in the future, a successful model and an advocate of mental health”.
Akingbade Victoria Timilehin born on July 29th 1999 in Lagos State is the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Akingbade Stephen. She hails from Ese-Odo Local Government Area in Ondo State, Nigeria. She attended her primary and secondary schools in Abuja and Nassarawa State respectively.
Victoria is a compassionate, easy going, determined and approachable young lady who is passionate about volunteering and understands the value of being an example to the people around her and this could be exemplified in her involvement in non-governmental organizations like Beyond the Classroom Foundation, WALL Foundation, Club 31 Woman and Mine Teenage Ministry. What she cherishes most in life are the people she has met and the experiences she has been through because she believes that have shaped her to become the person she is today.
